Ghana Prisons Service investigates alleged inmate link to Abamba Queen Mother’s murder

The Ghana Prisons Service has launched an investigation into allegations that an inmate at the Ankaful Maximum Security Prison was involved in the murder of Abamba Queen Mother, Nana Serwaa Asaama Agyankomaa I, also known as Nana Serwaa Gyan Kuma I.

The statement, signed by DDP Janet Asabea, Head of the Public Affairs Department at Prisons Headquarters, conveyed the Service’s condolences to the chiefs and people of the Abamba Traditional Area in Atebubu over the killing of the Queen Mother, in a release issued on May 30, 2026

According to the statement, preliminary findings by the Ghana Police Service implicated inmate Ishaku Alhassan, also known as Sule Yagani, in the crime. The convicted prisoner is alleged to have acted as an intermediary in facilitating the murder plot.

The Prisons Administration said it views the allegations with utmost seriousness and has constituted a high-powered team to investigate the matter and make recommendations.

It added that an active inter-agency collaboration with the Ghana Police Service is underway to ensure a thorough investigation.

The Service assured the public that anyone found culpable or complicit in breaching security protocols would face the full rigours of the law.

The statement noted that inmates are permitted to make heavily supervised voice calls through official prison phone booths and receive scheduled visits from family members, friends and legal counsel.

However, it stressed that the possession and use of personal mobile phones are strictly prohibited for both inmates and on-duty correctional officers.

The Ghana Prisons Service said it continues to enforce strict contraband control measures, including physical and electronic searches at prison entry points, intelligence-led searches of cells and workshops, and random body searches of inmates and staff.

The Service reaffirmed its commitment to public safety and national security while continuing its mandate of inmate custody, reformation and rehabilitation.